LEH Launches Disaster Preparedness Study

With support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, LEH has initiated a research project to assess and make recommendations on the role of a state humanities council in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

As part of this assessment, LEH will evaluate the following: its own preparedness and continuity practices; the success of prior post-disaster grant making and support for partner institutions; successful models utilized by other state humanities councils; strategies for engaging with the emergency management community across the state; and, other mechanisms through which LEH can best support the resilience of the humanities across the state.

We hope to gather data from those who experienced it by exploring ways LEH might aid partner organizations before and after natural disasters. In February 2018, partner organizations will be asked to complete a brief survey on relevant circumstances, needs, and challenges pre- and post-disaster.

All partners in the humanities (museums, libraries, schools, arts councils, etc.) are asked to consider assisting us in this important endeavor. Learn more about the LEH’s response to the 2016 floods in Louisiana, and contact LEH VP of Strategic Initiatives Shantrell Austin at austin@leh.org to learn more about the research project.